Only a third of immigration arrests following tip-offs from the public resulted in deportations last year, official figures show.

Immigration Minister James Brokenshire revealed that of the 4,535 arrests made for immigration offences in 2013 after allegations made by members of the public, only 1,585 people were removed from Britain.

Only 15 criminal prosecutions were started in relation to the arrests.

Mr Brokenshire released the figures in response to a written parliamentary question from shadow immigration minister David Hanson.

Mr Hanson said: "These figures show that the Government just can't get a grip on illegal immigration. Only a third of people arrested last year after public tip-offs were being deported, a shocking record and one that the Government should be ashamed of.

"For people to have confidence in our borders and immigration system, it's crucial that people who are here illegally are found and deported from this country.

"Public reporting is vital in helping tackle illegal immigration, and Theresa May's department has to start taking simple steps to ensure these arrests are properly investigated and people who are here illegally are removed."

The Home Office said there was insufficient evidence to progress a third of all cases regarding suspected illegal immigrants reported by the public.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The immigration system we inherited was shambolic and open to abuse. We are building a system that is fair to British citizens and legitimate migrants and tough on those who abuse the system and flout the law.

"We take all reports of illegal immigrants in the UK seriously, but not all the information we receive is accurate. When tip-offs do lead to arrests, there are many legal barriers that can prevent speedy deportation.

"We are addressing several of these barriers through the Immigration Bill. It will cut the number of appeal rights from 17 to four, allow us to return people while their appeals are ongoing and ensure that judges deal with Article 8 claims in the right way - making clear the right to a family life is not regarded as absolute and unqualified."

Comments (8)

Hooray for Immigration Minister James Brokenshire, let us try to clear the decks of these illegals (they do have a country of their own to go back to) and then we can all start again in a legal and proper way!

Hooray for Immigration Minister James Brokenshire, let us try to clear the decks of these illegals (they do have a country of their own to go back to) and then we can all start again in a legal and proper way!onsidecobra

Until we stop more coming in we will never get a handle on it. As soon as we deport one after lengthy and expensive court case, there are 10 we cannot find and another 6 coming in behind them, the main reason we cannot address the backlog is because human rights lawyers are charging so much, the state is deterred from bringing a case against. Abu was here 10 years and we couldn't shift him, it cost us millions. Just think we have 300,00 illegals like him here to deal with,no wonder the state is not able to stem the tide.

Perhaps they can start with deporting the rights lawyers, a number of whom appear to be aiding and abetting terrorism.... If they are illegal that's it, repatriation, there should not be an human rights opt out for those here BREAKING The law. We have to stem the flow, that requires opting out of Europe and immediate deportations of anyone found here illegally. If Europe doesn't like that, tough.... Europe is where most come from !

Until we stop more coming in we will never get a handle on it. As soon as we deport one after lengthy and expensive court case, there are 10 we cannot find and another 6 coming in behind them, the main reason we cannot address the backlog is because human rights lawyers are charging so much, the state is deterred from bringing a case against. Abu was here 10 years and we couldn't shift him, it cost us millions. Just think we have 300,00 illegals like him here to deal with,no wonder the state is not able to stem the tide.
Perhaps they can start with deporting the rights lawyers, a number of whom appear to be aiding and abetting terrorism.... If they are illegal that's it, repatriation, there should not be an human rights opt out for those here BREAKING The law. We have to stem the flow, that requires opting out of Europe and immediate deportations of anyone found here illegally. If Europe doesn't like that, tough.... Europe is where most come from !Mervyn James

All illegals soon as caught photo, finger print, DNA and deported, if they want to come here and settle apply from their country with their legal aid if they have any, not ours, once we are out of the EU encourage the EU immigrants to leave ASAP....Any with British citizenship review their status, also review all foreign marriages, all foreign Criminals deported after their sentence is complete, it'll take a while, but their will be light at the end of the tunnel, and then Islam....

All illegals soon as caught photo, finger print, DNA and deported, if they want to come here and settle apply from their country with their legal aid if they have any, not ours, once we are out of the EU encourage the EU immigrants to leave ASAP....Any with British citizenship review their status, also review all foreign marriages, all foreign Criminals deported after their sentence is complete, it'll take a while, but their will be light at the end of the tunnel, and then Islam....welshmen

Post a comment

Comment

Remember you are personally responsible for what you post on this site and must abide by our site terms. Do not post anything that is false, abusive or malicious. If you wish to complain, please use the ‘report this post’ link.